STUDYING THE ELECTROCHEMICAL BEHAVIOUR OF RED PHOSPHORUS IN HYDROCHLORIC ACID SOLUTION

Abstract

Elemental phosphorus is an interesting subject for electrochemical research. Situated in the middle of the third period, it exhibits equal capacity for both oxidation and reduction reactions. This paper presents the results of a study of the oxidation reaction of red phosphorus using a composite phosphorus-graphite electrode in a hydrochloric acid solution under galvanostatic conditions. The influence of key electrochemical parameters, such as current density and electrolyte concentration, on the phosphorus oxidation current efficiency was studied. Optimal conditions for the oxidation process were determined. It was shown that in the presence of chloride ions, competitive anodic formation of active chlorine occurs, significantly affecting the mechanism and products of phosphorus oxidation. The obtained study results demonstrate that, during anodic polarization, elemental phosphorus in aqueous solutions is directly oxidized to form hypophosphite-, phosphit-e, and phosphate-ions.